Loose-leaf binder.



G. W.v GOSS.

LOOSE LEAP BINDER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1912.`

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

UNITED `sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE W., GOSS, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO LUCENA M. MORDEN, OF WATERBUBY, CONNECTICUT.

LoosE-L'EAE BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

Application led January 29, 1912. Serial No. 674,078.

Binders, of which the following is a full,

clear,`and exact description, such as lwill enable others skilled inthe art, -to which it appertains'to make and use the same, ref.- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichv Figure 1 is a plan view of a loose leaf binder of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is across section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of the binder. Figs. 4: and 5 are cross sectional views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 and illustrating further modified forms of the binder. Figi 6 Ais a detail plan view of a modified form of the binder and Fig. is a detail section showing a construction wherein the adjustable ring-carrying member engages theback plate of the binder.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the type utilizing a back plate and a series of ring-carrying members that are adjustably positioned on the back plate.

By making the rings or loops adjustable toward and away from one another it is possible to accommodate the sheets or cards which vary in size and sheets or cards wherein the apertures are formed at different distances apart.

The principal object of my invention 1s to combine a series of rings or loops with a back plate and to provide simple means for simultaneously opening or closing all of' the rings or loops.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings: 1 designates a back plate which is preferably constructed of sheet metal slightly curved in cross section and having its side edges bent over on to the body portion of said plate, as designated by 2 to form' retaining lips tor'the adjustable base plates 3 which carry the binding loops or rings. These base plates 3' are preferably constructed of sheet metal approximately rectangular in outline and of such width as to fit snugly between the retaining lips 2 and to slide lengthwise upon the back plate when unlocked therefrom.

In the preferred form of the binder illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a pair of inverted U-shaped supports 4 are struck up from the central portion of each plate 3 and mounted upon pivot pins 5 which pass -transversely through these supports are the lowerl ends of a pair of curved arms 6 which unite to form a binding loop. The lower portions of these arms 6 extend inwardly toward one another from the pivot pins 5 and formed in the end of one of these lower ends is a semi-circular seat 7 and formed in the corresponding end of the opposite arm is a notch 8.

l 9 designates a rod which is normally positioned between the lower ends of all of the arms 6, and formed integral with this rod is a longitudinally disposed rib 10 which bears in the notches 8 and that portion of the rod directly opposite this rib bears in the curved seats 7. One end of this rod 9 is bent at right angles to the body portion thereof, as designated' by 11 to form a handie whereby said rod may be partially rotated when the binding rings or loops are opened or closed.

The various parts of the form of binder just described are constructed so that when the arms 6 are closed to form binding loops the axis of the rod 9 occupies a plane slightly below the plane occupied by the pivot pins 5, and'thus when the rod is partially rotated so as to move downward below center thev upper portions of the arms will vswing together, thereby forming closed rings, and when so-positioned said arms are rocked for the reason that the rod is below the center of the fulcrumed points of said arms.

To simultaneously open all of the rings the operator engages the bent end 11 of the rod and swings the same toward the left, thereby partially rocking said rod and in so doing the rib 10 bears against the lower portions of the arms 6 below the notches 8,' and as a result, the opposite side ofthe rod bears against the upper portions of the curved seats 7, thereby exerting upward pressure between the lower ends of both arms, and as a result, the rod is moved upward past center or above the plane occupied by the pivot pins 5, thereby simultaneously opening all of the rings or binding loops.

`When the rings or binding loops are thus opened the outward pressure upon the supanother.

CAI

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 where the upper ends of l'the supports .4 are not connected the movement of the rod 9 downward below the pivot pins 5 tends to separate said pins and the supports 4, and such action springs the side edges of the plates 3 downward, thereby causing the same to frictionally engage in the grooves beneath the lips 2 on the sides of the back,

plate 1, and when the rod 9 is moved upward above the plane occupied by the pivot pins to open the bindinglo'ops, this frictional engagement is relieved and the plates 3 are free to be adjusted lengthwise on the back plate.

To simultaneously lock all of the binding loops the rod 9 is rotated toward the right thereby bearing down upon the lower portions of the curved seats 7, and as a result, the rod passes below center and the upper ends of the arms 6 are swung to'- gether to form the closed binding rings or loo s.

n the modified construction illustrated in F ig. 3 a perfectly smooth rod 9a occupies a position between curved seats formed on .the-lower ends of both of the'arms 6, which rod is adapted to move above and below the plane occupied by the pivot pins or fulcrums of said arms when the arms are opened orclosed. The rod 9" is moved upward to open the arms by means of pressure applied to a pin 12 which operates through the backplate 1 and bears directly against the underside of said rod 9a. In the form shown inthis figure as well as in Figs. 4

vand 5 the parts 4 shown in Fig. 2 are connected at the top to form an integral yoke. This back-plate throughl'which the pin 12 extends guides the pin, detachment thereof being prevented by a part of the back 1 which passes over the head of the pin and which is usually of flexible formation.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4 a rod 13 which is quarter round inV Figs. 1 and 2.

in the lower end of one arm and the rounded portion of said operating member engages the curved seat in the lower end of the oppo site arm. In this form of device the o` erating member is partially rocked to e ect an opening or closmg movement of the arms. In the modified construction' illustrated 'in Fig. 6 'the edges of the inwardly projectdesignated. by 17 and these corrugated ,or-

serrated portions are engaged by the corrugated or serrated outer edges of the lates 3 when the arms are closed, thereby e ectually locking the base plates to the back late. A loose leafbinder of my improve construction is comparatively simple, .can be very cheaply manufactured inasmuch as Ibut very few parts are required to provide a complete fixtureor binder and byproviding binding loops which are adjustable ltoward and away from one another a single binder or ixturecan be utilized for receiving cards or sheets of different size and cards or 'sheets wherein the apertures are formed atl different distances apart It will 'be read'ly understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved loose leaf binder may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth pended claims.

I claim: y

1. -In a loose leaf binder aback-plate, a series of base plates adjustably `positioned on the back plate, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each base plate each pair of4 arms uniting to form a binding loop and means coperating with the pairs of arms for simultaneously moving the same into opened or closed positions.

2. In a loose leaf binder a' back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably arranged on the back plate, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each base plate, which arms unite'to form a binding loop and a member arranged between the lower ends of all of the arms. for simultaneously moving the same into opened or closedl positions.

3. Ina loose leaf binder a back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably positioned thereon, a pair oferms fulcrumed on each base plate, which arms unite to form in the apa binding loop and a rod positioned between the lower ends of all of the arms 'for simultaneously actuating the same.

4. In la loose leaf binder a back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably positioned thereon, a pair of arms fulorumed on each base plate and adapted to form a binding loop and a rod positioned between the lower ends of all the arms, and which rod isyadapted to move above and below the plane occupied by the fulcrums of the arms for the purpose of simultaneously opening and closing said arms and locking the base plates to the back late.

5. In a loose leaf binder t e combination with a back plate, of a pair of base plates adjustably positioned on the back plate, a separable binding loop on each base plate and a locking member cooperating with the binding loop for simultaneously openin or closing the same and for locking the plates to the back plate when the binding loops are closed.

6. In a loose leaf binder a back plate, a

pluralit of base plates adjustably positioned t ereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each base plate which arms unite to form a binding loop, and a rocking rod between the lowerv ends of all of the arms for simultaneously actuating all of the same.

7 In a loose leaf binder, the combination vof a back plate, a series of members adjustably positioned on the back plate and having upstanding portions, a series of binding loops or rings, pivot pins connecting said rings with said upstanding portions back from the opposed ends of said rings so that such ends project inwardly beyond such pivot pins, and means coperating directlyl with the lower opposed ends of said rings' whereby the latter will simultaneously open and close.

8. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a seriesof base plates adjustably positioned on the back plate, each having an upstanding portion, a pair of arms pivotally connected to said upstanding portion, and means coperating with the ends of said arms for simultaneously moving the same into their opened or vclosed positions.

9. In a loose leaf binder the combinationI of a back plate, a plurality ofpairs of pivotally supported arms carried thereby, each pair uniting to form a ring, said rings supaSe ported for adjustable movement .toward and from one another, the lower opposed ends of said arms constructed to receive an angularly formed member, and a rod having an angular portion located between the ends of said arms for simultaneously opening and closing the same.

l0. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably positioned on the back plate, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each of said base plates, and means operative to simultaneously open or close the arms, said base plates and .back plate having means for locking the base plates against movement.

11. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably positioned on the back plate, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each of said base plates, and means operative to simultaneously openor close the arms, said base plates and back plate having serrated means for locking the base plates against movemet.

12. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a plurality of base plates adjustably positioned thereon, a pair of arms fulcrumed on each base plate to form a binding loop, means coperating with the several pairs of arms for simultaneously opening and-closing the same, and interlockin means carried by the base plates and back plate for locking the base plates against movement.

13. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a plurality of pairs of non-l integrally connected loop forming arms carried thereby, means for simultaneously opening or closing all of said arms and having means extending transversely through the back plate and in position to e operated.

14. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a back plate, a pluralit of pairs of loop forming arms supported t ereby for adjustable movement toward and from one another, means for simultaneously opening and closing all of said arms, and means extending through the back plate for manipulating said opening and closing means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of January, 1912.

- GEORGE W. GOSS.

Witnesses:

M. l. SMITH, LILY RosT. 

